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Pork giant Smithfield Foods has announced it is launching a new line of vegan meats under its Pure Farmland brand.
Products in the line will include breakfast patties, meatballs, burger patties, and pre-seasoned protein starters.
According to the company, which is the largest pig and pork producer in the world, the products are all made in the USA, offer a good source of protein, and are gluten-free.
‘Alternative protein’
“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of this new product portfolio under our Pure Farmland brand. We’ve been exploring the alternative protein space, and have taken our time to get it right,” John Pauley, Chief Commercial Officer for Smithfield Foods, said in a statement.
“With this launch, we are bringing together our expertise in creating market-leading food products, our organizational commitment to sustainability, and our deep understanding of ‘flexitarian’ consumers, to deliver a broad variety of flavorful plant-based protein choices that consumers want and can afford at a great value.”
Controversy
Smithfield has come under fire in the past over its treatment of animals, with vegan charity PETA saying: “Smithfield Foods kills almost 30 million pigs every year – more than any other company in the world.
“The way that Smithfield treats pigs, from birth to slaughter, could result in felony cruelty-to-animals charges if pigs were covered by the same laws that are designed to protect dogs and cats from abuse.”
In addition, the company has been forced to make large payouts as a result of causing a nuisance to neighbors through the release of deeply unpleasant odors from its facilities.